$165 for a 4-channel energy measurement system plus a whatever 2.4GHz wireless module? No, thanks. I can build one for $50.Also, regarding to the certificate cost, a UL60950-1 test+cert can cost you $3000 easily if you get it done correctly in one pass.An FCC cert for intentional radiator (if they decided to roll out their own WiFi design) will also run you easily $10k.And that's only for US/Canada. National level certificates for each major regulatory body cost roughly the same, so multiply that by 5 you get the number: $65k.Even though some regulatory bodies recon each others' certificates, $59k, in AUD, still seems far less than required if they want to sell world wide.

They won't need FCC certification if they use off the shelf certified modules. There is a problem if you use more than one at a time, but it resolvable much cheaper than full-blown certification.

Yes they do. With a pre-certified module they will have to do FCC15B test for unintentional radiation. Without a pre-certified module, they need FCC15B for unintentional radiator (logic and power part) and FCC15C for intentional one.

I'm not sure in what cases unintentional radiation actually has to be tested. I think most of the time you just claim compliance somehow.

And KS units can be shipped as prototypes/dev.kits, so they won't need certification either.

That's called verification, they don't have to pay for a cert, but they have to pay for the actual testing, otherwise they will be in trouble if someone later report it has excessive radiation.FCC15 exempts things for ISM purposes, but kits are not exempted unless it is solely for ISM purpose, including hobbyist engineering, which is the gray zone where Adafruit survives in.

FCC15 exempts things for ISM purposes, but kits are not exempted unless it is solely for ISM purpose, including hobbyist engineering, which is the gray zone where Adafruit survives in.

I don't see how this thing is any more different than any other form-factor dev. kit. It is obviously shipped though a KS campaign, which naturally attracts people willing to mess with the thing, update the firmware, etc. I really believe this is a valid argument. Plus KS distribution is fairly limited.

When they want to scale this for actual production, they will have to get all the certification, but by that time they will have a very tangible product (or nothing), so getting some financing should not be a big deal.

So your point is that it's overpriced because it, as a complete working assembly, is more than its raw parts costs.

You're beginning to sound like the stereotypical Chinese cousin/Jewish uncle/Indian brother-in-law who can 'get it for you wholesale'.

I will either expect it to be fully certified and tested and pay for a premium, or be a hobbyist level stuff with minimal price margin.A product that clearly won't have enough money to pass all sorts of certification while charging a premium? No way.

So your point is that it's overpriced because it, as a complete working assembly, is more than its raw parts costs.

You're beginning to sound like the stereotypical Chinese cousin/Jewish uncle/Indian brother-in-law who can 'get it for you wholesale'.

I will either expect it to be fully certified and tested and pay for a premium, or be a hobbyist level stuff with minimal price margin.A product that clearly won't have enough money to pass all sorts of certification while charging a premium? No way.

That's not where you started from. You started from a dismissive "No, thanks. I can build one for $50.". Not quite the same thing.

Logged

Anybody got a syringe I can use to squeeze the magic smoke back into this?

That's not where you started from. You started from a dismissive "No, thanks. I can build one for $50.". Not quite the same thing.

If you read it carefully, you will find in my first post I already addressed the certification cost issue.I have no problems buying high quality, legitimate products, but I don't want to pay more than 20% margin for anything that's not properly made unless I absolutely have to.

Also, I do not have mercy to overpriced things if the price cannot be justified.Check out this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U9YU0K2?psc=1The same function as an energy measurement unit plus smart switch, at $22. Four of them together would be $88, then considering the WiFi part and PSU part will be duplicated, I would say for a commercial ready unit with thin but reasonable margin, $70 is the maximum I will pay for this as a fully assembled unit.

I don't think you can get away with just the inserts. EU and UK models are substantially different from the other two, and there will be a visible seam on the flat surface if you just change the inserts, no matter how good your machining is.

If they could somehow make all things circular with the same diameter, then the seam can go inside the circle

I don't think you can get away with just the inserts. EU and UK models are substantially different from the other two, and there will be a visible seam on the flat surface if you just change the inserts, no matter how good your machining is.

If they could somehow make all things circular with the same diameter, then the seam can go inside the circle

Yes you are right - going by their own pics the UK version has square inserts and the rest are circular.

Maybe they can get away with two base mouldings though:- UK, and everyone else.

I don't think the visible seam matters - it doesn't matter to Apple as they do the same thing on their laptop adapters.

This looks like just another load monitoring power strip, like numerous ones already being produced in China. In fact, the style of it looks like something which started its life in China. The price seems unreasonably high. A thing like this can be made pretty cheap, as long as the volume is sufficient to amortise the mouldings.